Shoe machine



Nov. 8, 1938. w. T. B. ROBERTS SHOE MACHINE 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1937 no 1 F.

Nov. 8, 1938, w. T. B. ROBERTS SHOE MACHINE Filed Dec. 2],, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 such machines. trated as applied to a machine for lasting the Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE MACHINE New Jersey Application December 21, 1937, Serial No. 180,994 In Great Britain January 30, 1937 40 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes, and more particularly to means for positioning or supporting shoes in The invention is herein illustoe ends of shoes, but it is to be understood that it is not limited to machines of that particular character.

Shoe machines of some kinds have often been provided heretofore each with a shoe support or jack which receives the shoe in a position comparatively remote from the means which operates upon it and is movable by the operator to carry the shoe into position to be operated upon. Such a shoe support is'disclosed, for example, as part of a toe-lasting machine in United States Letters Patent No. 2,134,148, granted on October 25, 1938 upon an application of mine. As therein disclosed, the shoe support is arranged to be swung by the operator rearwardly from a shoe-receiving position to present the shoe to the lasting instrumentalities, and comprises a toe rest for engaging the top of the iorep-art of the shoe positioned bottom upward and a heel-end support or heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe upper and adjustable in different ways to accommodate shoes of diflerent sizes or styles. Objects of the present invention are to eliminate the necessity for such movement of a shoe support and also, for the most part at least, the need for any such preliminary adjustments, while providing a construction in the use of which the shoe may be presented quickly and easily in the desired relation to the operating instrumentalities and by which the shoe, whatever its size or style, will be held securely against undesired movement during the operation of the machine. For the purposes in View, the construction herein shown is such that the operator presents the shoe initially in position to be operated upon with the bottom of its forepart in contact with a holddown which controls it in the lasting operation, and then by treadle-operated means moves a toe rest upwardly to clamp the shoe against the holddown, a heel rest being provided which near the end of the upward movement of the toe rest is moved lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation to its heel end without special attention on the operators part. More particularly, as illustrated, the heel rest receives this movement from spring-operated mechanism which is released to render it operative by the means which moves the toe rest upwardly, this mechanism being then locked to prevent retractive movement of the heel rest. To facilitate the presentation of the shoe,

the invention in its illustrative embodiment further provides means for positioning the heel rest initially lower than the toe rest and for moving it upwardly with the toe rest at a greater speed than the latter to position it properly opposite the heel end of the shoe before it engages the shoe.

The above and other features of the invention, including also novel means whereby the heel rest is permitted to adjust itself to the heightwise contour of the heelend of the shoe and is then locked against displacement, novel means aiiording provision for movement of the shoe support, if desired, out of itsnormal position, novel means for determining the position of the shoe lengthwise, and various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a view mainly in right-hand side elevation of a portion of the machine disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent, with features of the present invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation on a larger scale of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view in right-hand side elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 2, with a portion in section on the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is mainly a plan view of a' portion of the toe-lasting wipers and of toe-end gage mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a right-hand side elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the heel rest and associated parts shown in Fig. 1.

In view of the disclosure in the above-mentioned Letters Patent the drawings show only as much of the machine as is necessary to illustrate the invention, and such parts as are common to the earlier construction will be only briefly described. The machine is provided, as hereto fore, with a horizontal jack-supporting shaft 2 and with a jack casting 4 supported at its lower end on this shaft, this casting in the construction shown being controlled by novel means hereinafter described. Mounted for upward and downward movements in the jack casting is a post 6 provided at its upper end with a toe rest 8 comprising a rubber pad mounted on a block I 0 on the post. The post is free to turn to some extent about its axis with the toe rest in response to such lateral swinging movement as the shoe may receive to adjust it in proper relation to the operating instrumentalities after the shoe has been engaged by the toe rest. At its lower end the post 6 is supported on the upper end of a bar i2 also mounted to move upwardly and downwardly in the jack casting 4, this bar being con nected at its lower end to one arm of a lever I4 mounted to swing about a pin I6 in the lower end of the casting. The other arm of this lever carries a roll l8 engaged above by a shoulder provided on a link 20 which is connected at its lower end to a treadle (not shown), as fully disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent. The link is moved downwardly by depression of the treadle and in this movement serves to swing the lever 14 in a clockwise direction and thus to raise the bar 52 and the post 5 to cause the toe rest 8 to clamp the forepart of the shoe against a holddown 22 with which the machine is provided. The toe end of the shoe is thus positioned for the operation of toe-lasting wipers 24 thereon (Figs. 1 and 4), these wipers being moved upwardly while embracing the upper about the toe to wipe the upper to the edge of the insole and thereafter being advanced and closed to wipe the margin of the upper inwardly over the insole. After the post 6 has been raised by the treadle to clamp the shoe, it is controlled automatically during the power operation of the machine. For this purpose the lower end portion of the bar [2 is provided with rack teeth 2% engaged by a pinion 28 rotatably mounted on the shaft 2. Integral with this pinion is a ratchet wheel 3!! arranged to cooperate with which are a plurality of pawls 32 pivotally mounted on a plate 34 which is rotatable about the shaft 2 and is connected by a rod 35 to spring mechanism 38 for upholding the bar 52 and the post 6 yieldingly through the pawls. The pawls 32 are controlled by another plate 40 mounted to turn about the shaft 2 and are moved into engagement with the ratchet wheel 30 in response to movement of this plate in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) by a spring 42 when permitted by a lever 44 which engages a lug on the plate. As thus far described, the machine is constructed substantially as disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent wherein the construction and operation of the parts are more fully explained.

For purposes of the present invention the jack casting 4, instead of being arranged to swing with the parts thereon about the shaft 2 to present each shoe in position for the lasting operation and thereafter to withdraw the shoe, is held normally at all times in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 with the post 6 occupying a substantially vertical position below the holddown 22. Provision is, however, afforded for forward swinging movement of the jack casting to permit access, if desired, to parts of the machine located behind the jack. For thus controlling the jack casting there is mounted on the upper cylindrical end thereof a sleeve 45 (Fig. 5) provided with an upwardly extending curved tongue 48 arranged to enter upwardly extending grooves 50 formed in members 52 (Fig. l) which are fast on the frame of the machine, only one of these members being shown in the drawings. It will thus be seen that by means of the tongue 48 and the members 52 the shoe support or jack is locked in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the post 6 vertically arranged below the holddown as above described. In order to permit the jack to be swung forwardly to afford access to parts behind it, the

sleeve 46 is vertically movable on the casting 4 so that by downward movement thereof the tongue 43 may be withdrawn from the grooves 50 to unlock or release the jack. For controlling the sleeve there is mounted to turn in a boss 54 thereon a short shaft 56 provided with a disk 58 mounted in a recess in the sleeve, this disk carrying a crank pin 60 eccentri'cally mounted thereon and lying in a horizontal groove 62 formed in the casting 4. Fast on the outer end of the shaft 56 is a handle 64 for turning it. Normally the parts are positioned as shown in the drawings with the tongue 48 in its upraised locking position, the crank pin 60 being in its lowest position so as to hold the sleeve 46 and the tongue 48 effectively against downward movement. When it is desired to unlock the jack the shaft 56 is turned through about half a revolution to lower the tongue 48 far enough to withdraw it from the grooves 50. The jack may then be swung forwardly to a position corresponding to the work-receiving position of the jack shown in the previously mentioned Letters Patent. It will be understood that before the machine is again used to last a shoe the jack is returned to its normal position and is locked by upward movement of the sleeve 46 and its tongue 48.

In accordance with the disclosure of the previously mentioned Letters Patent, themachine is provided with a pair of upper-clamping fingers 55, only one of which is Visible in the drawings, for spreading the margin of the upper outwardly and for clamping it upon the top faces of the wipers 24 to control it in the lasting operation, these fingers being supported by a member 68 which in the course of the operation of the machine is moved downwardly and to the right from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. In order to determine the proper position of the shoe lengthwise when the shoe is presented by the operator in engagement with the holddown 22, the construction herein shown includes a toe-end gage member Til (Figs. 1 and 4) arranged to contact with the toe-end face of the shoe. This gage member is mounted in a block 12 provided with fianges'M which lie in vertical guideways formed in plates 76 fast on the member 68. The gage member is adjustable in directions lengthwise of the shoe along a guideway 18 inthe block 12 and is held in adjusted position by a screw 80 which is threaded in the gage member and extends through a slot 82 in the block. The block 12 is controlled by a spring 84 connected to a pin 86 which extends rearwardly from the block, the spring tending to move the block downward relatively to the member 58. Such downward movement of the block i2 is limited by contact with a shoulder 81 on one of the plates 16, so that the gage member To is positioned initially just above the wipers, the gage'member preferably be,- ing so adjusted that it extends slightly forward beyond the edges of the wipers. The gage memher is thus in position to contact with the toeend face of the shoe in a location adjacent to the edge of the insole when the operator presents the shoe to the machine, as will be evident by reference to Fig. 1. Since the gage member 10 is connected to the member 58 it partakes of the movements of the latter lengthwise of the shoe, and it will be understood that the gage member does not interfere with such downward movement of the member 68 or such upward movement of the wipers as occurs While the gage member is vision for relative movement of the block 12 and the member 68 against the resistance of the spring 84.

To assist in supporting the shoe against lengthwise forward movement in response to pressure of the wipers thereon the construction herein shown includes a heel rest 88 which occupies initially a position considerably lower than the toe rest and spaced forwardly from the toe rest a distance somewhat greater than the length of the largest shoe to be operated upon, this heel rest being moved upwardly and then rearwardly into abutting engagement with the heel end of each shoe, whatever may be the size of the shoe or the lateral position of its heel end. The heel rest 88 comprises a block 90 provided with a leather facing 92 to engage the shoe, the block and its leather facing being curved heightwise of the shoe -in approximate conformity to the corresponding curvature of the heel end of the shoe and being also curved to a lesser degree in directions widthwise of the shoe. The block 90 is supported, by means hereinafter described, on the upper end of a carrier arm 94 which slopes downwardly and rearwardly, this arm being swiveled at its lower end on the upper end portion of a rod 66 between collars 98 and I00 which are fast on the rod. The lower end of the rod 96 is threaded in the front end of a short rearwardly extending arm I02, and accordingly by turning movement of the rod, which may be effected by a hand wheel I04 formed on the collar I00, the heel rest is adjustable in directions heightwise of the shoe as may be occasionally required for shoes of different sizes or styles. The arm I02 is pivotally connected at its rear end by a pin I06 to the front ends of a pair of links I08 (Figs. 1 and 2) between which the arm is mounted, these links extending rearwardly and downwardly and being mounted at their rear ends on pivot pins I I0 projecting from the opposite sides of a bracket I I2 which is fast on the previously mentioned bar I2. About midway between their opposite ends the links I08 are connected by other links II4, only one of which is shown in the drawings, to short crank arms II6 fast on a shaft II8 rotatably mounted in ears I20 extending forwardly from the bracket IIZ. Between its opposite ends the shaft I I 8 has fast thereon a pinion I22 which engages a vertical rack I24 secured to the front of the jack casting 4. It will thus be seen that when the bar I2 is raised by the treadle to force the toe rest against the shoe the links I08 are moved bodily upward by the bracket H2 and are also swung upwardly about the pins IIO by reason of the fact that the pinion I20 is turned by the stationary rack I24 to swing the crank arms II6 upwardly until they are substantially parallel to the links I I 4, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The heel rest 88 is accordingly raised more rapidly than the toe rest from the relatively low position which it initially occupies, so that it will be properly positioned opposite the heel end of the shoe when it engages the shoe.

Movement of the heel rest lengthwise of the shoe into shoe-engaging position is effected by swinging the carrier arm 94 and its supporting arm I02 about the axis of the pin I06. For this purpose the arm 94 is provided at its opposite sides with pins I26, only one of which is shown, and connected to these pins are the front ends of a pair of chains I28 (Figs. 1 and 2). These chains extend rearwardly and then downwardly over a pair of idler pulleys, one of which is shown at I30 in Fig. 1, these pulleys being rotatably mounted on the. opposite sides of the upper endportion of the jack casting 4. The

lower end portions of the chains I28 pass partly around the rear sides of a pair of drums I32 to which their ends are connected, these drums being fast on a horizontal shaft I34 rotatably mounted in the jack casting 4. It will thus be seen that rotation of the drums I32 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) serves to swing the arm 94 rearwardly to carry the heel rest into engagement with the shoe. For thus rotating the drums there is secured to the shaft I34 a disk I36 (Fig. 3) having mounted thereon a block I38 to which one end of a chain I40 is connected, this chain extending partly around a snail cam I42 fast on the shaft I34 and its other end being connected to a downwardly extending tension spring I44 the lower end of which is connected to the jack casting. Accordingly this spring acts, when permitted, to turn the shaft I34 and thereby to swing the heel rest into shoeengaging position, the purpose and effect of the snail cam I42 being to compensate in this operation for the decrease in the tension of the spring by causing the effective pull of the chain to take place at a progressively increasing distance from the axis of the shaft I34. The effective force of the spring therefore remains substantially uniform so that it will apply the heel band firmly to the shoe when it engages the shoe.

The shaft I34 is so controlled as to prevent the heel rest from being swung toward the shoe by the spring I44 until the toe rest is near the end of its upward movement to clamp the shoe, and the shaft is thereafter locked positively against reverse turning movement so as to prevent reverse movement of the heel rest. For these purposes there are fast on the shaft I 34 three ratchet wheels I46, I48'and I50. The two ratchet wheels I46 and I48 have their teeth extending in the same direction, and the teeth of the ratchet wheel I50, which is of smaller diameter, extend in the opposite direction. Extending forwardly from the jack casting 4 are two pairs of ears I52 (Fig. 2) in which is mounted a rod I54, and mounted to turn about this rod are three bell-crank levers I56, I58 and I60. Faston one downwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever I60 is a pawl I62 arranged to cooperate with the ratchet wheel I50 to prevent the shaft I34 from being turned by the spring I44, and fast on a rearwardly extending arm of each of the bell-crank levers I56 and I58 is a pawl I64 arranged to cooperate with the teeth of the respective ratchet wheels I46 and I48 to lock the shaft I34 against reverse movement after it has been turned by the spring, only the pawl on the bell-crank lever I58 being visible in the drawings. Another downwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever I60 carries a roll I66 controlled by an upwardly extending cam member I68 carried by the upwardly and downwardly movable bracket II2, this cam member being provided on its front side with a downwardly and forwardly sloping cam face I whereby the bell-crank lever I60 is swung to disconnect its pawl I 62 from the ratchet wheel H58 near the end of the upward movement of the toe rest. For controlling the bell-crank lever I58 to permit its pawl I64 to engage the ratchet wheel I40 at substantially the same time that the pawl I62 is thus operated to release the spring I 44, the cam member I68 is provided on its rear side with a cam face I12 substantially parallel to the cam face I'I0 for engagement with a roll I I4 on a downwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever I58. The bell-crank lever I56 is similarly controlled by a cam face on the rear side of another upwardly extending cam member I16 (Fig. 2) carried by the bracket H2 and arranged to cooperate with a roll I18 on a downwardly extending arm of this bell-crank lever. The teeth of the two ratchet wheels I46 and I48 are relatively staggered so that a tooth on one or the other of these ratchet wheels will be in position to cooperate with the corresponding pawl IE4 without any substantial backlash. A spring I (Fig. 1) tends to swing the bell-crank lever I68 in the direction to carry its pawl I62 into engagement with the ratchet wheel I50, and preferably springs also are provided for swinging the bell-crank levers I56 and I58 in the directions to cause their pawls I64 to engage the respective ratchet wheels I46 and I48. It will thus be seen that near the end of the upward movement of the toe rest, when the heel rest has been raised to a position opposite the heel-end face of the shoe, the spring I44 is released to permit it to swing the heel rest rearwardly against the shoe, and that the heel rest is automatically locked to prevent reverse swinging movement thereof during the lasting operation. It will be understood that when the bar I2 supporting the toe rest is permitted to move downwardly after the lasting operation the downward movement of the 6am face I70 on the cam member I68 permits the pawl I62 to be swung by the spring I80 into position again to engage the ratchet wheel I50, and the downward movement of the cam face I12 on the member I68 and the corresponding cam face on the member I16 serves to swing the pawls I64 away from the ratchet wheels I46 and I48 and thus to release the heel rest so that it can be swung forwardly away from the toe rest. The operator thus swings the heel rest forwardly against the resistance of the spring I44 by engagement of the shoe therewith as he removes the shoe from over the toe rest. The pawl I62 being then in engagement with the ratchet wheel I50 will lock the shaft I34 against turning in the direction to swing the heel rest again toward the toe rest until the toe rest is raised to operate on the next shoe.

As previously stated, the post 6 is free to turn to some extent with the toe rest about its vertical axis, and accordingly the toe rest may adjust itself to the shoe or may turn with the shoe in case the operator swings the heel end of the shoe to the right or the left to position the sides of its toe portion in proper relation to the inner edges of the wipers 24 after having moved the toe rest upwardly far enough to engage the shoe but before the shoe is firmly clamped against the holddown. The curvature of the heel rest 88 widthwise of the shoe is such as to permit the heel ends of different shoes thus to occupy different lateral positions. It will be evident that the shoe-positioningand supporting means is so constructed as to receive shoes of different sizes or styles without the necessity ordinarily for any preliminary adjustment.- There is, moreover, sufficient play in the bearings of the heel-rest supporting members to permit small movements of theheel rest in directions widthwise of the shoe in case one of the wipers should press harder than the other wiper against the side of the shoe which it engages and should therefore tend to swing the shoe about the axis of the post 6 so as to equalize the pressures of the wipers on heel end of each shoe firmly over as large an area as possible heightwise of the shoe, it is desirable that it be so mounted as to permit it to adjust itself to the shoe by tipping about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe, and it is also desirable that it be thereafter locked against any further such tipping movement in order to provide the most effective support for the shoe against lengthwise movement under the thrust of the wipers. For these purposes there are secured in the opposite sides of the block 90, about midway between the upper and lower ends of the block, a pair of axially alined studs I82 which extend into bearings provided in two upwardly extending arms of a double lever I84 the lower ends of which arms are pivoted at I86 on the arm 94. The weight of the block tends to cause it to swing about the axis of the studs I82 in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 6) until pins I88 on the block engage the upper ends of the arms of the lever I84. Mounted in the arm 94 is a spring-pressed plunger I 90 which by pressure against the lever I84 tends to swing the lever rearwardly about its pivotal connection I86 with the arm 94, such swinging movement of the lever being limited by engagement of its arms with lugs I92 on the arm 94. The front face of the block 90 is curved about an axis coincident with the axis of the studs I82 and has fast thereon a similarly curved plate I94 provided with a series of fine teeth I96 extending widthwise thereof. This plate lies in a similarly curved recess in the upper' end portion of the arm 94, and mounted in the arm in this recess is a bar I98 provided with teeth arranged to engage the teeth I96. The spring plunger I90 initially holds the lever I84 in such a position that the teeth I96 are out of engagement with the teeth of the bar I98, thus permitting the heel rest to adjust itself to the shoe as above described, the shoe first engaging the lower portion of the heel rest and tipping it about the axis of the studs I82 until it is seated evenly against the shoe. As the arm 94 contmues its swinging movement after the heel rest has adjusted itself to the shoe, the teeth of the bar I 98 are carried into engagement with the teeth I 96 and thus prevent any further tipping movement of the heel rest during the lasting operation.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that initially the heel rest is positioned forwardly of the toe rest at a distance greater than the length of the shoe to be operated upon and is considerably lower than the toe rest, so as not to interfere in any way with the presentation of the shoe to the machine. The operator, while conveniently holding the shoe bottomupward in both hands, presents it over the toe rest with the bottom of its forepart in engagement with the holddown 22 and with its toe-end face in engagement with the gage member I0, preferably positioning its heel end at this time so that the sides of the toe will be, as nearly as can be ob served, equidistant from the edges of the toe wipers. He then moves the toe rest upwardly into engagement with the shoe by depressing the treadle, the heel rest moving upwardly with the toe rest at greater speed than the toe rest until it is opposite the heel end of the shoe. Near the end of the upward movement of the toe rest and the heel rest the pawl I 62 releases the ratchet wheel I50, whereupon the spring I44 acts through the chain I40 and the chains I28 to swing the heel rest into shoe-engaging position. The heel rest adjusts itself to the shoe by tipping about the axis of the stud I82, after which the bar I98 engages the teeth I96 to lock it against any further such tipping movement in the lasting operation. When the heel rest is seated firmly against the shoe one or the other of the pawls I64, which were moved into engagement with the ratchet wheels I46 and I48 at substantially the same time when the pawl I62 released the ratchet wheel I50, locks the shaft I34 against reverse turning movement so that the heel rest is held positively against any forward movement in response to pressure of the shoe thereon during the lasting operation. While holding the treadle depressed the operator starts the power operation of the machine, whereupon the pawls 32 assume control of the toe rest support, so that the operator may release the treadle. As explained in the previously mentioned Letters Pat ent, the shoe and the toe rest at a certain time in the operation of the machine are depressed by the holddown 22 against the resistance of the spring mechanism 38, and it will be evident that in this operation the heel rest moves downwardly with the toe rest, the amount of this downward movement being so small that the relation of the heel rest to the shoe remains unaltered. Near the end of the operation of the machine the bar I2'is released by the pawls 32 to permit downward movement of the toe rest and the heel rest, and as the bar I2 descends the pawls I64 are lifted to release the ratchet wheels I46 and I48 and the pawl I62 is moved into engagement with its ratchet wheel I50 so as to hold the spring I44 once more under tension when the heel rest is swung forwardly. Such forward swinging movement of the heel rest is effected by pressure of the shoe against it as the operator removes the shoe from over the toe rest. 7

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1'. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, mechanism arranged to act automatically when released to move the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe, and means for restraining said mechanism from acting until the forepart support has received a movement heightwise of the shoe and for then releasing it to render it active.

2. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a spring for moving the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe, and means controlled by the movement of the forepart support for restraining said spring from acting until the forepart support has received a movement heightwise of the shoe and for then releasing it to render it active.

3. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart sup port in a direction heightwise of the shoe, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, mechanism arranged to act automatically when released to move the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe, means controlled by the movement of the forepart support for restraining said mechanism from acting until the forepart support has received a movement heightwise of the shoe and for then releasing it to render it active, and additional means controlled by the movement of the forepart support for locking the heel rest against reverse movement away from the shoe.

4. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, mechanism for moving the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe, means tending constantly thus to operate said mechanism, and a device for holding said mechanism against movement by its operating means until the forepart support approaches its operative position and for then releasing said mechanism to permit it to be operated.

5. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, mechanism, for moving the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe, means tending constantly thus to operate said mechanism, a device for holding said mechanism normally against movement by its operating means, and means for rendering said device inoperative and for thus releasing said mechanism in response to the movement of the forepart support toward operative position.

6.; In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a rotatable member connected to said heel rest for moving it into such abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, means tending constantly thus to rotate said member, a device for normally holding said member against such rotation, and means for rendering said device inoperative and for thus releasing said member as the forepart support approaches its operative position.

7. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top: of the fore part, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative pos1- tion, a rotatable member, a flexible connection between said member and the heel rest for moving the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, a spring tending constantly thus to rotate said member, a pawl-and-ratchet device for holding said member normally against such rotation, and means for operating said pawland-ratchet device to release said member in response to movement of the forepart support toward operative position.

8. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, mechanism for moving the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe, means tending constantly thus to operate said mechanism, a device for holding said mechanism normally against movement by its operating means, means for rendering said device inoperative and for thus releasing said mechanism in response to movement of the forepart support toward operative position, and mechanism arranged to be rendered operative by such movement of the forepart support to lock the heel rest against movement in a direction away from the shoe.

9. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a rotatable member connected to the heel rest for moving itinto such abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, a spring for thus rotating said member, a device for normally holding said member against such rotation, means for rendering said device inoperative and for thus releasing said member in response to movement of the forepart support toward operative position, and another device arranged to be rendered operative by such movement of tht forepart support to lock said member against rotation in the opposite direction and thus to hold the heel rest against movement in a direction away from the shoe.

10. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart of the shoe positioned bottom upward, a toe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support upwardly to cause the toe rest to clamp the shoe against the holddown, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, mechanism for moving the heel rest into such abutting relation to the shoe, means tending constantly thus to operate said mechanism, and a device controlled by said toe rest support for holding said mechanism against movement by its operating means until the toe rest approaches its clamping position and for then releasing said mechanism to permit it to be operated.

11. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart of the shoe positioned bottom upward, a toe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support upwardly to cause the toe rest to clamp the shoe against the holddown, 2.

heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a rotatable member connected to the heel rest for moving it into such abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, means tending constantly thus to rotate said member, a device for normally holding said member against such rotation, and means for rendering said device inoperative and for thus releasing said member by the upward movement of said toe rest support.

12. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart of the shoe positioned bottom upward, a toe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support upwardly to cause the toe rest to clamp the shoe against the holddown, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a rotatable member connected to the heel rest for moving it into such abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, a spring for thus rotating. said member, a pawl-and-ratchet device for normally holding said member against such rotation, and means movable upwardly with said toe rest support for rendering said pawland-ratchet device inoperative and for thus releasing said member as the toe rest approaches its clamping position.

13. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart of the shoe positioned bottom upward, a toe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support upwardly to cause the toe rest to clamp the shoe against the holddown, a heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe and arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a rotatable member connected to the heel rest for moving it into such abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, a spring for thus rotating said member, a device for normally holding said member against such rotation, another device for holding said member against rotation in the opposite direction after the heel rest has been moved toward the shoe, and means movable upwardly with said toe rest support for rendering said first-named device inoperative and for thus releasing said member and also for rendering said other device operative.

14. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a rotatable member connected to said heelrest for moving it lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto by rotation of said member in one direction, a spring for thus rotating said member, and means for applying the force of said spring to said member at a progressively increasing distance from its axis to compensate for loss of stress in the spring as the member is rotated.

15. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a rotatable member connected to said heel rest for moving it lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto by rotation of said member in one direction, a spring for thus rotating said member, a cam mounted to turn with said memher, and a flexible connection between the spring and said member arranged to extend about said cam, the cam being so formed as to cause the force of the spring to be applied at a progressively increasing distance from the axis of said member to compensate for loss of stress in the spring as the member is rotated.

16. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, and means for first moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof from an initial idle position and for thereafter imparting to the heel rest a different movement lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation to the shoe.

17. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, means for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof from an initial idle position, and additional means for moving the heel rest'lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation to the shoe when its movement heightwise of the shoe has been substantially completed.

18. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoewhen in operative position, a support for said heel rest movable relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof to carry the heel rest from an initial idle position to a position opposite the heel end of the shoe, and means for moving the heel rest relatively to said support into abutting relation to the shoe.

19. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a support for said heel rest movable relatively to the shoeheightwise thereof to carry the heel rest from an initial idle position to a position opposite the heel end of the shoe, and mechanism arranged to be rendered operative by the movement of said heel rest support to move the heel rest lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto when its movement heightwise of the shoe has been substantially completed.

20. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a support for said heel rest movable relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof to carry the heel rest from an initial idle position to a position opposite the heel end of the shoe, mechanism arranged to act automatically when released to move the heel rest lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto, and .means for restraining said mecha nism from acting until the heel rest has received a movement heightwise of the shoe and for then releasing it to render it active.

21. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, means for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof from an initial idle position, mechanism for moving the heel rest lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation to the shoe, means 75,. tending constantly thus to operate said mecha- 22. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, means for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof from an initial idle position, a rotatable member connected to said heel rest for moving it lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, means tending constantly thus to rotate said member, a device for normally holding said member against such rotation, and mechanism controlled by the means which moves the heel rest heightwise of the shoe for rendering said device inoperative and for thus releasing said member to permit its rotation.

23. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, means for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof from an initial idle position as the forepart support is thus moved heightwise or" the shoe, and additional means for moving the heel rest lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto.

24. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a support for the shoe at the top of the forepart, a member for moving said forepart support in a direction heightwise of the shoe, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, means for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof by the movement of said member, mechanism arranged to act automatically when released to move the heel rest lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto, and means for restraining said mechanism from acting until the heel rest has received a movement heightwise of the shoe and for then releasing it to render it active.

25. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a toe rest for engaging the shoe at the top of the forepart, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support in a direction heightwise of the shoe to carry the toe rest into operative position, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position. rreans for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof from an initial idle position as the toe rest is moved toward operative position, and spring-operated mechanism arranged to be released by the movement of said toe rest support for moving the heel rest lengthwise'of the shoe into abutting relation to the shoe.

26. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a toe rest for engaging the shoe at the top of the forepart, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support in a direction heightwise of the shoe to carry the toe rest into operative position, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, means for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof from an initial idle position as the toe rest is moved toward operative position, a rotatable member connected to said heel rest for moving it lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation to the shoe by rotation of said member in one direction, means tending constantly thus to rotate said member, a device for normally holding said member against such rotation, and means for rendering said device inoperative and for thus releasing said memher by the movement of said toe rest support.

27. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a toe rest for engaging the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for moving said toe rest in a direction heightwise of the shoe into operative position, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, and means for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof at a greater speed than the toe rest as the latter is moved toward operative position, said heel rest being further movable lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto.

28. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a toe rest for engaging the shoe at the top of the forepart, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support in a direction heightwise of the shoe to carry the toe rest into operative position, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, and mechanism for moving said heel rest relatively to the shoe heightwise thereof a greater distance than the toe rest by the movement or" said toe rest support, the heel rest being further movable lengthwise of the shoe into abutting relation thereto.

29. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a toe rest for engaging the shoe at the top of the forepart, a support for said toe rest, means for moving said support in a direction heightwise of the shoe to carry the toe rest into operative position, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a support for said heel rest carried by said toe rest support for moving the heel rest heightwise of the shoe with the toe rest, and mechanism for also moving said heel rest support relatively to the toe rest support in response to the movement of the latter heightwise of the shoe to impart to the heel rest a movement heightwise of the shoe of greater extent than that of the toe rest.

30. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart of the shoe positioned bottom upward, a toe rest for engaging thetop of the forepart of the shoe, means for moving said toe rest upwardly to clamp the shoe against the holddown, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, and means for positioning said heel rest initially lower than the toe rest to facilitate the presentation of the shoe by the operator to the holddown and for moving it upward relatively to the shoe a greater distance than the toe rest prior to its engagement with the shoe.

31. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart oi the shoe positioned bottom upward, a toe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a support for said toe: rest,

means for moving said support upwardly to cause the toe rest to clamp the shoe against the holddown, a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe when in operative position, a support for said heel rest connected to said toe-rest support for positioning the heel rest initially lower than the toe rest to facilitate presen-, tation of the shoe by the operator to the holddown and for raising the heel rest with the toe rest at a greater speed than the toe rest until it is opposite the heel end of the shoe, and means for moving the heel rest lengthwise of the shoe into engagement therewith when its upward movement has been substantially completed.

32. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted-on a last, of a member for engaging the bottom of the shoe to control the shoe, a shoe support so mounted as to permit it to be moved relatively to said member in a direction transverse to the height of the shoe from a normal position to a different position on the machine, and means for preventing such movement of the shoe support in the normal use of the machine but for releasing it at the will of the operator to permit it to be displaced from normal position.

33. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last positioned bottom upward, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart of the shoe, a toe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe to clamp the shoe against said holddown, a support for said toe rest so mounted as to permit it to be moved with the toe rest relatively to the holddown in a direction lengthwise of the shoe from a normal position to a difierent position on the machine, and means for locking said support against such movement in the normal use of the machine but for releasing it at the will of the operator to permit it to be displaced from normal position.

34. In a shoe' machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last positioned bottom upward, of a holddown for engaging the bottom of the forepart of the shoe, a toe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe to clamp the shoe against said holddown, a heel rest for engaging the heel end of the shoe, a support for said toe rest and heel rest mounted for swinging movement relatively to the holddown in a direction lengthwise of the shoe from a normal position to a difierent position on the machine, and means for locking said support against such movement in the normal use of the machine but for releasing it at the will of the operator to permit it to be swung out of normal position.

35. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last positioned bottom upward, of a shoe support comprising a toe rest and a heel rest so mounted as to permit it to be moved in a direc: tion lengthwise of the shoe from a normal position to a diiierent position on the machine, and means for locking said shoe support against such movement in the normal use of the machine but for releasing it at the will of the operator to permit it to be displaced from normal position.

36. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of shoe-controlling means comprising a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe upper, said heel rest being mounted for tipping movement about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe substantially midway of the height of the heel end of the shoe to permit it to adjust itself to each shoe, and a device arranged to act in response to pressure of the shoe on the heel rest to lock the heel rest against any further such tipping movement after it has adjusted itself to the shoe.

37. Ina shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a last, of shoe-controlling means comprising a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel end of the shoe upper, a member supporting said heel rest and relatively to which the heel rest is movable about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe to permit it to adjust itself to each shoe, said member and the heel rest being relatively movable lengthwise of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe on the heel rest, and a device arranged to act in response to such relative movement to lock the heel rest against further movement about said axis.

38. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe mounted on a. last, of shoe-controlling means comprising a heel rest arranged to abut against the heel and of the shoe upper, said heel rest being mounted for movement about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe to permit it to adjust itself to the shoe, a member supporting said heel rest and movable lengthwise of the shoe to apply the heel rest to the shoe, said member being further movable in the same direction relatively to the heel rest,

and a device arranged to act in response to the further movement of-said member to lock the heel rest against movement about said axis.

39. In a shoe machine, toe-lasting means arranged to operate on a shoe positioned bottom upward and comprising toe wipers and a device for clamping the margin of the shoe upper on the wipers, a support for said device movable downwardly in the course of the operation of the machine, and gage mechanism arranged to extend over the top of the wipers and to contact with the toe-end face of the shoe to determine the position of the shoe lengthwise when the shoe is presented to the machine, said gage mechanism being movably mounted on said support to permit the downward movement of the support while the gage mechanism is held from moving downwardly by the wipers.

40. In a shoe machine, toe-lasting means arranged to operate on a shoe positioned bottom upward and comprising toe wipers movable upwardly in the course of the operation of the machine, gage mechanism arranged to extend over the top of the wipers and to contact with the toe-end face of the shoe to determine the position of the shoe lengthwise when the shoe is presented to the machine, and a support for said gage mechanism relatively to which said mechanism is upwardly movable to permit it to be raised by the wipers when the wipers receive their upward movement.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS. 

